The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-05-05
Memoirs OF Lee.

Gen. a. ~. LODS, VI OuaiIosto'i'io,
Va, who is now totally blind, and who,
during the late war, was first, Gen. Lees
Military Secretary, then on his personal
staff, and then Brigadier General to the
close of hostilities, has just completed
the memoirs of Robert E. Lee," con-
tanning the life, actions and character,
private as we'll as military, of that grand
parsonage. 1t is, indeed, nearer an
autobiography than any work hitherto
published, and contains many important
and interesting facts, both of private
and public nature, chat have never here.
tofore come to light. The book is bound
in one elegant volume of 700 pages and
the price is 1915. 1t is sold by subscrip.
tion only, and Mr.. Jas. B. villepigue, of
this city, is the agent.
1t has been concisely said that "great
men, great events and great epochs grow
as ne recede from them" This is emf.
nently and demonstrably true as regards
the immortal Robert Lee. True, he
confronts posterity with the disadyan-
tage of having .tailsd-having been the
leader of an unsuccessful military move.
meut; and with this downfall then there
was collapse of great political move
ment. While nothing succeeds like
success"-by common consent success
being the touchstope of merit-success
being a virtue and failure, vice-and
while he, less fortunate than the success.
full General of the opposing army, WAS
overtaken by death before be could com.
plete his design of writing and publish.
ing to the world his personal narrative
of the important events in which he
figured, yet, in future ages, bis fame, in
the North and in foreign lands, as it now
does in the South, will repose in the
niche of the temple of fame, not only as
the greatest Christian soldier and mill.
tary chieftain in ancient or modern
times, but the greatest man according to
the true standard of greatness, that ever
lived! How striking is the contrast
between him and the man to whom he
was compelled, by superior forces, TO
surrender his sword at Appornattox, %
years ago! Notwithstanding the great
success to which Gen. Grant attained in
military as we'll as in political life, yet
there is no way to compare the christian
character and military genius Of the two
men, except by contrast. Indeed, if
there was no trace of the character of
Gen. Lee, save the private let.
ter written b. him before the war
to his eldest son, g. W. Custis Lee,
when the latter was away from home at
school, yet it, Of itself, written as it was,
by a father who was then unknown to
fame and who, doubtless, had not the
slightest idea that it would ever be seen
by my other eye than his sons, contains
more evidence of true greatness than the
whole of Gen. Grants life combined
An extract of it is published in this book,
at page 464, and is as follows:
"You must study to be frank with the
world; frankness is the child Of honesty
and courage. Say just what you mean
to do on every occasion, and take it for
granted you mean to DO right. If a
friend asks favor, you should grant it
if it is reasonable; if not, tell him
plainly Why you cannot; you will wrong
him and wrong yourself by equivocation
of any kind. Never do wrong thing to
make friend or keep one; the man
who requires you to do 80 is dearly
bought at a sacrifice. Deal kindly. but
firmly, with all your classmates; you
will find it the policy which wears best
Above all, do not appear to others what
you are not. If you have any fault to
find with any one, tell him, not others,
of what you complain; there is no more
dangerous experiment of being one thing
than that of undertaking to be one thing
before mans face and another behind
his back. We should live, act, and say
nothing to the injury Of anyone. 1t is
not only better as matter of principle,
but it is the path of peace and honor
In regard to duty, let me, in conclusion
of this hearty letter, inform you that
nearly hundred years ago, there was
day of remarkable gloom and darkness,
still known as the "dark day"-a day
when the ligh. Of the sun was slowly
extinguished as if by an eclipse. The
Legislature of Connecticut Nas in ses'
sion, and as its members saw the unex'
pected and unaccountable coming on
they shared in the general awe and ter
ror. 1t was supposed by many that the
last day, the day ofjudgment, had come;
Some one, in the CONSERVATION of the
hour, moved an adjournment. Then
there arose an old Puritan Legislator
Davenport, of Stamford, and said that il
the last day had come he desired to be
found at his post his duty, and therefore
moved that candles be brought in, &C
that the House could proceed with it,
duty. There was quietness in that mans
mind-the quietness of heavenly wisdom
and inHexible willingness to obey pres
ent duty. Duty, then, is the sublimest
word in our language. Do your duty in
all things, like the old Puritan. You
cannot do more-you should never wish
to do less. Never let me and your
mother wear one gray hair for any lack
of dntv on vour nartO